NHS England expands diabetes prevention programme

The programme, collaboratively run by NHS England, Public Health England, and Diabetes UK, originally covered 27 areas and 26 million people. Initial figures have indicated good progress, with more than 18,000 people on the DPP, exceeding the original target of 10,000 set in the NHS mandate 2017/18.

In the wave 2 expansion, an additional 13 areas will be supported by the DPP and 50,000 additional places will be made available. The 27 sites already running the DPP have also had their funding agreed for the next 12 months.

People referred to the DPP get tailored, personalised help to reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The DPP includes education on lifestyle, healthy eating habits, and bespoke physical exercise programmes. It is hoped that with a successful DPP fewer people with diabetes will die early every year, and that the cost of diabetes to the NHS will decrease from its current level (estimated at just under 9% of the annual NHS budget).